Durban: The Netherlands has been more substance than style so far at the World Cup and Bert van Marwijk's team is happy to stay that way to beat giant killer Slovakia and secure a spot in the quarterfinals.
The Netherlands start as strong favourites but will not be taking anything for granted on Monday in Durban after Slovakia's stunning 3-2 defeat of Italy in group play which sent the defending champion home.
Slovakia also boasts one of the tournament's top scorers in Robert Vittek, whose three goals place him at the top of the scoring table with David Villa of Spain, Argentine Gonzalo Higuain and Luis Suarez of Uruguay.
"Slovakia did well," Netherlands defender John Heitinga said. "You don't just win like that from Italy."
There were signs in the last group game that the famous Dutch "clockwork orange" attacking style of quick exchanges of passing and running off the ball is finally starting to click.
Robin van Persie's opening goal in his team's 2-1 defeat of Cameroon was a case in point — the Arsenal striker played a one-two with Rafael van der Vaart and Dirk Kuyt stepped over the ball to let it run to Van Persie, who gratefully buried his first goal of the tournament in the back of the net.
However, Van Marwijk was not satisfied. He wants the team to control possession and patiently probe for openings in the opponent's defense. It might not please all fans as Dutch "total football" does, but it wins matches, Van Marwijk argues.
Against Cameroon, the Netherlands gave the ball away too often, he said, and will have to be sharper against Slovakia.
"If we are as concentrated as during the first two games and look for space with direct moves, then we are at our best," he said. "Then we have patience, we have speed we can score. But you cannot afford to play that nonchalantly for 20 minutes."
The Netherlands, losing World Cup finalist in 1974 and 1978, beat Denmark 2-0 and Japan 1-0 in its first two games for a perfect record in the group phase.
Slovakia drew 1-1 with New Zealand and lost 2-0 to Paraguay before its decisive victory over Italy sent it into the round of 16.
Van Marwijk said Slovakia will be dangerous because less is expected of them.
"We came here as newcomers and outsiders," Vittek said after his two goals helped decide the upset of Italy. "But we have already surprised once and we want to do it again. We really have moved the limits of Slovak football somewhere else."
Slovakia coach Vladimir Weiss said his team would play with the same spirit against the Netherlands as it did against Italy.
"They are the favorites but you never know," Weiss said. "They have attacking players like (Wesley) Sneijder and Van der Vaart. It's not easy to play against these guys. They won all their matches at the group stage. They are a fantastic team with fantastic players."
The 2010 World Cup debut of Arjen Robben as a second-half substitute against Cameroon gave Dutch fans hope for more beautiful football. The Bayern Munich winger crowned his first appearance in South Africa by unleashing one of his trademark curling left-foot shots that bounced off the inside of the post and straight to Klaas Jan Huntelaar who calmly slotted in the rebound.
Robben, who had a standout season in Germany, injured his left hamstring in the Netherlands' last warmup match, against Hungary on June 5, arrived late in South Africa and sat out the first two Group E matches to recover and return to full fitness.
"In the 20 minutes he played everyone could see how important he could be for us," Van Marwijk said.
But it still seems unlikely Robben will start Monday in the Moses Mabhida Stadium.
"Now, our intention is to increase his playing time," Van Marwijk said. "I take it he can play longer from now on. I don't know about the starting lineup."
While Van Marwijk's injury problems are easing, six of his starting lineup are carrying yellow cards into the match.
Kuyt, van Persie, Van der Vaart, Kuyt, Nigel de Jong, Gregory van der Wiel and captain Giovanni van Bronckhorst could all miss the quarterfinal against Brazil or Chile if they pick up another card.
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